echokardografiu

Echokardiografia, commonly known as an echocardiogram or heart ultrasound, is a non-invasive diagnostic imaging technique used to assess the structure and function of the heart. It utilizes ultrasound waves, which are high-frequency sound waves, to create real-time images of the heart's chambers, valves, and walls.

The procedure involves a trained technician, called a sonographer, applying a gel to the chest and then moving a transducer, a handheld device, over the skin. The transducer emits ultrasound waves and receives the echoes that bounce back from the heart. These echoes are processed by a computer to generate moving images displayed on a monitor.

Echocardiography can provide valuable information about the heart's size and shape, the thickness of its walls, and the pumping strength of its chambers. It is particularly useful for diagnosing and monitoring a wide range of cardiovascular conditions, including heart valve disorders, congenital heart defects, heart muscle diseases (cardiomyopathy), and problems with the pericardium (the sac surrounding the heart).

Different types of echocardiography exist, such as transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), which is the standard approach through the chest wall, and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), where a transducer is passed down the esophagus for clearer images. Stress echocardiography combines exercise or medication with ultrasound to assess heart function under stress. The results of an echocardiogram are interpreted by a cardiologist to guide diagnosis and treatment plans.